Which of the following describes an injury with soft-tissue damage inside the body while the skin remains intact?

The description of an injury involving soft-tissue damage inside the body while the skin remains intact aligns with the concept of a closed abdominal injury. In this type of injury, the internal structures, such as organs and tissues, may suffer damage due to blunt force trauma, but there is no break in the skin surface. This distinction is vital in emergency care as it informs the assessment and potential treatment of the injury.

Closed abdominal injuries can result from various incidents, such as falls, motor vehicle accidents, or any trauma that does not penetrate the skin. Understanding this type of injury helps emergency medical personnel to recognize the signs and symptoms that may indicate underlying damage, such as bruising, abdominal pain, or signs of internal bleeding, and to proceed with appropriate diagnostic and treatment protocols while monitoring for complications.

The other types of injuries—open abdominal, severe abdominal, and penetrating abdominal—imply breaches in the skin or more extensive damages that may not fit the criteria described in the question. Thus, a closed abdominal injury is correctly identified as the scenario where the skin remains intact while internal tissues are affected.